Located in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka certainly fulfills the expectations of a tropical paradise, with early visitors to the island naming the country ‘The Resplendent Isle.’ Exploring inland from the azure seas and golden sandy beaches, these travelers came across lush rainforests that harbored rare orchids, delicious fruits and an abundance of exotic animals and bird species.
Venturing further towards the island’s centre, they were surprised to find another aspect to this enchanting country; a dramatically different landscape of mysterious mist shrouded mountains, tumbling waterfalls, dizzying precipices and wind swept plateaus; an area that is now known as Sri Lanka’s Hill Country.
Nature has blessed Sri Lanka with one of the richest biodiversities of any country in the world, thanks to its hugely varied topography. In contrast to the dripping rainforests of the lowland regions and located slightly south of the island’s centre, the cool highland terrain of the Hill Country reaches up to 2000 meters at some points, offering a haven for hikers, nature lovers, anglers, golfers, adventure seekers and those simply seeking solace and tranquillity amidst the spectacular verdant scenery.
Capital of the highlands is the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka’s second largest after Colombo. Spreading around a scenic lake at 500 meters above sea level, Kandy has a number of attractions that include the revered Dalada Maligawa, or Tooth Temple, where the sacred tooth of Lord Buddha is enshrined. Each July or August, a glittering festival is held in the city, known as the Esala Perahera; a spectacular pageant that features thrilling drummers, brightly costumed dancers and decorated elephants in a colourful procession.
Nearby at Peradeniya, the magnificent Royal Botanical Gardens are renowned for their collection of orchids, palms, spices and medicinal vegetation. Other plants that form a basis of Sri Lanka’s unique cuisine and traditional Ayurvedic healing therapy can be found in the fertile soil of the commercial spice gardens to the north of Kandy, near Matale. This town is framed against the remarkable Knuckles Range that reaches to 1,500 meters above sea level and features the superb stunted cloud forests, which are protected in a forest reserve.
Away from Kandy, the undisputed queen of the hill resorts is Nuwara Eliya, literally the ‘City of Light.’ Established by the British in the colonial era of the early 19th century, this attractive town rises to almost 1,900 metres and boasts one of the islands most beautiful golf courses. Founded by a group of enthusiastic Scottish players in 1889, the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club hosted the first ever Championship in the island in 1891 and the men’s and ladies’ Championships are still held there on alternate years, making it the second oldest such national competition in the world. There is also a race course, a man made lake and market gardens, where the temperate climate allows for the growth of strawberries.
More flora can be observed at the town’s attractive Victoria Park, which is filled with glorious flowers - especially from January through to April - and also at the sumptuous Hakgala Botanical Gardens, which contain sub-tropical plants, montane trees and popular rose gardens.
A visit to the hill country wouldn’t be complete without taking in one of the many tea plantations that are dotted around the countryside. Here, you can trace the origins of your early morning cuppa; a process that begins with sari clad tea pickers, who resemble butterflies as they dart in between the bushes, plucking the leaves from the bushes and placing them into baskets carried on their back. The leaves are then transported from the hillside to the tea stations, where they are withered, rolled and dried to produce one of the world’s finest beverages; Ceylon tea.
Southwest of Nuwara Eliya is the sacred Sri Pada, or Adam’s Peak, that towers dramatically above a virgin forest reserve. To Buddhists, the indentation in a rock on the summit is the footprint left by Lord Buddha as he descended from heaven, for Muslims and Christians, the print is from Adam and for Hindus, it was made by the god Siva, as he danced the world into creation. The mountain is climbed by devout pilgrims each year between December and May and the view from the summit at dawn is one of Sri Lanka’s most stunning sights.
The needle-like peak of Sri Pada has rightfully acquired its mystical reputation, as earlier each year in March and April, thousands of brilliantly colored butterflies make a mysterious flight up the mountain. There does not seem to be any scientific explanation for this, although local legend has it that the insects are paying homage to Lord Buddha, just as the thousands of human pilgrims do, later in the year.
Those intrepid adventurers who are unperturbed by heights and seeking adrenalin boosting pursuits will be amply rewarded in the highlands. The area can be explored by mountain bike and offers numerous exciting activities, including abseiling, hot air ballooning and paragliding. Across from the Horton Plains, a hauntingly beautiful and protected national park, is the World’s End, a sheer escarpment that drops a dizzying 880 meters and offers more spectacular views. On a clear day, it is possible to see the Indian Ocean, glinting in the sunlight some 80km to the South. East of the plains, around the villages of Haputale and Wellawaya is one of the island’s highest waterfalls, Diyaluma, which cascades over a cliff edge and drops 170 meters into the pool below.
North of Haputale, the small town of Ella is famed for its incredible views to the coastal plain 1,000 meters below and to the Dondra Lighthouse, the island’s most southerly point. More dramatic vistas are promised from a train ride from Haputale via Ella to Badulla. Magnificent steam locomotives, working relics from a bygone era, chug across iron bridges and expansive viaducts, making incredibly steep ascents and descents. At one particular point on the journey, the track loops and tunnels back under itself, just 30 meters lower.
The central highlands offer just a taste of the experiences that can be enjoyed in the wonderful island that is Sri Lanka. Colombo has all the attractions you would expect from a busy capital city, with star-rated hotels, shopping malls and a vast array of restaurants and clubs that cater for all tastes.
